ICON Data and Learning Labs

27/08/2026

Policy tell us what should change. Data helps us understand what needs to change, for whom, and whether it actually did.

That distinction matters.

ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) participated in the Regional Mental Health Conference 2026 Breakfast Meeting and Kisumu County Workplace Mental Health Policy Validation, hosted by TINADA Youth Action Africa.

For us, the conversation was bigger than the policy itself. It was about how evidence finds its way into decision-making.

Data can help move policy conversations from assumptions to evidence, from broad commitments to measurable priorities, and from implementation to accountability.

And data should not only enter the room when it is time to measure outcomes. It should be there when the questions are being asked and decisions are being made.

That is the conversation we continue to champion at ICON Data and Learning Labs: putting data where decisions happen.

14/08/2026

Every August, we celebrate young people.

We celebrate their ideas, their energy, their potential and their dreams for a better future.

But beyond the celebrations, there’s a question worth asking:

What opportunities are we creating for them?

This year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reminds us that while young people may come from different communities, backgrounds and circumstances, many share the same hopes, to have opportunities, to be heard, to participate, and to have a say in shaping the future they want to see.

And that is where meaningful investment in young people comes in.

Because celebrating young people is one thing. Creating spaces where they can learn, lead, build, experiment and shape solutions is another.

For us, meaningful celebration looks like action.

It looks like mentorship, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and youth leadership. It looks like creating spaces where young people can turn their ideas and potential into action, regardless of where they come from or the circumstances they find themselves in.

Because young people don’t just need to be told that they matter.

They need opportunities to shape the future they want to see.

As we mark International Youth Week, we’re highlighting some of the ways we’re investing in young people and creating opportunities for them to learn, lead and build.

Because perhaps the best way to celebrate young people isn’t to speak about what they could become.

It’s to create the space for them to become it.

This is our way of celebrating. 💙

What does meaningful investment in young people look like where you are?

11/08/2026

Kenya’s mental health sector is at an important inflection point and how we build the systems around it matters.

ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) joined mental health stakeholders in Nairobi for the first Mental Health Federation Meeting, hosted by Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya, with participation from the Ministry of Health’s Division of Mental Health.
The meeting comes at a significant moment for Kenya’s non-profit sector, following the operationalization of the Public Benefits Organizations (PBO) Act, 2013 and the release of the PBO Regulations, 2026. One of the opportunities created by this framework is the establishment of Federation forums, creating space for organizations within a sector to come together, strengthen governance and develop mechanisms for self-regulation.
For the mental health sector, this could mean developing shared standards, a common code of conduct, stronger beneficiary protection mechanisms and greater institutional accountability.

But there is another piece we believe must be part of this conversation: Data.

If self-regulation is about setting standards, data helps us understand whether those standards are being met.

If accountability is about protecting beneficiaries, data can help us identify gaps, measure outcomes and understand whose experiences are being represented, and whose are being left out.

And if the goal is to build public trust, the sector needs credible evidence to demonstrate what is working, where investment is needed and how mental health interventions are changing lives.

However, this must go hand in hand with responsible data governance. Mental health data is deeply personal. The systems we build must therefore uphold privacy, informed consent, data security and the dignity of the people behind the numbers.

For us at ICON Data and Learning Labs, the question is not simply “How much data do we have?” It is: Are we using data responsibly to build a mental health sector that is more accountable, more responsive and more centred on the people it serves?

The federation conversation is only the beginning. Building a stronger mental health sector will require collective action, shared learning and meaningful collaboration across organizations, government, communities and other stakeholders. At ICON Data and Learning Labs, we are committed to bringing our expertise in data, learning and evidence to this collective effort, helping strengthen the systems that enable the sector to learn, collaborate and remain accountable to the people it serves.

The opportunity before us is not just to build a federation, but to build a stronger ecosystem together.

06/08/2026

As the KenSafeSpace project draws to a close after three years of collaboration and impact, ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) joined over 40 fellow stakeholders in Eldoret to shape what comes next.

The convening focused on establishing a consortium that will sustain the partnerships, knowledge sharing, and collective action built throughout the project. Together, partners developed a shared vision, mission, governance structure, and strategic priorities to guide this next chapter.

We are proud that ICON Data and Learning Labs Africa was nominated to lead the Data Protection and Policy Advocacy Committee, a testament to our continued commitment to advancing data protection, evidence-based policy advocacy, and digital rights in Kenya.

While the KenSafeSpace project is coming to an end, the collaboration it inspired is only growing stronger. We look forward to working with fellow consortium members to build a more resilient and impactful digital rights ecosystem.

06/08/2026

28/07/2026

What if Africa's biggest development challenge isn't a lack of funding... but a lack of evidence owned by communities?

For decades, we've measured projects.

Perhaps it's time we started measuring systems.

At , convened by the Segal Family Foundation, ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) Africa had an opportunity to contribute to a session hosted by TINADA Youth Action Africa, sharing a perspective that continues to shape our work:

Sustainable community transformation requires more than funding great ideas. It requires investing in data and evidence systems that help communities understand what is working, adapt what isn't, and scale what truly creates impact.

Too often, data is collected about communities. Rarely is it built with communities. And that's the difference between reporting impact and creating it.

When communities own their evidence, they don't just become programme beneficiaries. They become decision-makers. Innovators. Accountability partners. Architects of their own development.

Africa doesn't have an evidence problem.

It has an evidence ownership problem.

The next beat of development will belong to those who stop treating data as a donor requirement and start treating it as community infrastructure.

That's the future IDL Africa is helping build.

16/07/2026

For years, one phrase has dominated conversations about AI: “AI is taking our jobs.”

Perhaps the real disruption is not AI replacing people, it is AI challenging us to rethink outdated systems, processes, and ways of working.

The future will not be defined by humans versus machines. It will be shaped by how well we collaborate with technology to amplify creativity, improve decision-making, and solve challenges that matter.

Africa has a unique opportunity: not just to consume AI innovations, but to contribute to building ethical, inclusive, and locally relevant AI solutions.

The question is no longer “Will AI change the way we work?”

The question is: “How will we prepare ourselves to lead that change?”

As we mark World AI Day, we want to hear from you:

💬 How has AI shown up in your work, studies, or everyday life?

🤖 Have you embraced AI tools, or are you still cautious about adopting them?

🌍 What opportunities or challenges do you think AI brings to Africa?

Let’s move beyond the fear and start a conversation about the future we are building together.

15/07/2026

Building inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems is not a one-time intervention. It is a continuous process of testing ideas, learning from implementation, adapting to entrepreneurs' realities, and scaling what creates lasting impact.

This thinking guided our engagement as we welcomed Impact Gateway Africa to our headquarters for a courtesy visit following the launch of the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Curriculum, supported by SlovakAid through the IYBA-IYBA SEED Project .

Coming after the validation workshops and Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions, the visit provided an important opportunity to reflect on the progress of the piloting phase. Our discussions focused on how the curriculum is translating into meaningful change for the entrepreneurs onboarded, the lessons emerging from implementation, and the opportunities to strengthen our approach as we move forward.

Lasting impact is created when partnerships extend beyond project delivery to embrace continuous learning, evidence-driven adaptation, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes. That is how inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems are built, through collaboration, accountability, and a willingness to evolve based on what entrepreneurs truly need.

03/07/2026

DAY 3 OF 6 | BEFORE YOU CLICK "I AGREE"

As continued learning through , one lesson stood out for us. Most of us give consent without even realizing it. Ukweli ama uongo?🤦🤦🤦

Fikiria about the last time uli downloaded an app, joined a Wi-Fi network, signed up for a promotion, or accepted cookies on a website. Chances ni uli click "I Agree" or "Accept" without a second thought.

We've all done it- But si sahii we know better?

Meaningful consent is more than clicking a button. It means understanding what you're agreeing to, knowing how your personal data will be used, and having the freedom to say yes, no, or even change your mind later.

The next time you're asked to share your personal information, pause for a moment and ask yourself:

Do I know what I'm agreeing to? That one question can make all the difference.

This is one of many lessons we're taking from our journey with ICON Data and Learning Labs. One we're excited to continue sharing with the communities we serve through this week long

📅 Kesho sasa! Day 4/6), we'll ask an important question: What does a truly safe online space look like for women and girls?

Tungependa kuskia maoni yako🤗🤗🤗

ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) Amnesty International Kenya DPO 360 Africa Office of the Data Protection Commissioner

03/07/2026

ICON Data and Learning Labs is pleased to announce the release of our 2025 Annual Impact Report. This report reflects a year of advancing organizational growth, expanded partnerships and increased investments in data-driven community transformation.

Key Operational and Impact Milestones achieved:
✅ IDL reached 11,781 youth and supported 88 grassroots organizations through various initiatives.
✅ IDL experienced significant financial growth, with revenue increasing 5X and its asset base expanding 7X compared to the previous year.
✅ IDL established the Lake Region Economic Bloc Data Protection Officers Network for regional advocacy.
✅ IDL launched a national data-driven platform for ecological farming using GIS mapping and data analytics to support policy makers in evidence-based decision-making.
✅ IDL launched the Youth Data & Voices Campaign, reaching over 34,000 people by blending climate data with youth-led storytelling.
✅ IDL total income grew by approximately 168%, driven largely by a 246% increase in restricted funding.
✅ IDL contributed to the launch of the Africa CAN Playbook, a framework for data-driven climate and health solutions across the continent.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our staff, board members, partners, collaborators and the communities we work with for their continued trust and support.

Read the 2025 Annual Report: [https://www.icondatalearning.org/post/65d6b3fda96e1c2/]